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She frowns, trying to listen carefully; then he starts to cry and she understands

“I will,” she says, crying now, too

“And keep them well I’ll find you a way out I proer Promise me ” He shakes her “Promise me The three of you will make it to the end ”

She licks her cracked, dry lips “I will,” she says, believing it, believing in it

He pulls her close and kisses her He tastes like sweet summer peaches, and when he draws back they are both done with crying

“It’s your birthday tomorrow,” she says

“Twenty-six,” he says

She leans against him; his ar fa and coes of the park like confusedtih

It is the best day of Vera’s life—as iolden, and as she walks ho it It is a light she will need in the months to come

But when she gets ho

The apart She can see her breath On the table, a pitcher of water is frozen solid Frost shines on the one out

She hears herat Sasha to build a fire

Heris noisy and strained It sounds like old fruit being pushed through a sieve Her skin is as pale as dirty snow The flesh around herblue “Verushka,” she whispers

Or did she really speak? Vera doesn’t know “Mama,” she says

“I waited for Sasha,” Mama says